Teachers to get trained through YouTube as govt plans new exam pattern

The MSBSHSE has decided to change the pattern of exam question paper for Class IX this year and Class X from next year.

N A FIRST, teachers across Maharashtra are set to receive training using YouTube on a new pattern of examination being planned for Class IX and Class X. The move was initiated by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) after one virtual classroom training session for the purpose was left incomplete due to technical glitches.

The MSBSHSE has decided to change the pattern of exam question paper for Class IX this year and Class X from next year. As per the new pattern, question papers would be more activity-based and just going through textbooks won’t suffice, said a board official. In order to ensure that the teachers check the papers thoroughly and encourage new-age, witty answers, the board has been training teachers.

Earlier, these training sessions were held offline where state-level experts used to guide district teachers who, in turn, trained the ones at the taluka level. But from this year, the MSBSHSE has decided to carry out virtual training, thereby taking a step towards digitisation of the overall infrastructure. According to the officials, the board had set up 250 centres across the state for the purpose. But following the glitches at one such class, teachers complained that the sessions were incomplete and demanded that a video of this session be provided on YouTube or on board website.

“The education department had decided to change the paper pattern of Class IX and Class X from the academic year 2015-16. The virtual training session was being organised in this regard from last week . But the session was interrupted due to technical glitches at some of the centres. We are now looking at providing these sessions to teachers on YouTube or will provide them CDs of the same,” said Krishna Patil, Secretary, MSBSHSE.

Meanwhile, Anil Bornare, a teacher and leader of the Maharashtra Rajya Shikshak Parishad, said providing training sessions on YouTube would not only save time but also let teachers go through it whenever they wanted to.

Source | Indian Express | 31 August 2015